Walker: Interesting football playoff matchups may loom on horizon

Advocate photo by KYLE ENCAR -- Brother Martin quarterback Jake Broggi is run out of bounds by Jesuit's Justin Helm on Saturday at Tad Gormley.

How about this for an opening-round playoff matchup?

Jesuit vs. rival Holy Cross, with the winner advancing to play Rummel in the second round.

That’s how things stand now in the Division I playoffs, according to the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s unofficial power rankings.

But with one more game remaining in the regular season that concludes this weekend, the scenarios could change.

The LHSAA will announce the playoff pairings Sunday morning.

Here is a look, class-by-class (and division-by-division because of the much-criticized split format) at how some of the local teams stand heading into the last week of the season.

In Division I, comprised of the six Catholic League schools, along with a few others, everybody qualifies for the playoffs.

John Curtis, which chose to play up in classification, is currently the top-seeded team in Division I, with Rummel right behind them at No. 2.

On paper, it looks like Rummel should be the top team, having gone undefeated this season and boasting wins over every Catholic League opponent so far as well as wins over the likes of Hahnville, East St. John and Baton Rouge Catholic.

Riverside, which arguably is one of the area’s most dominant teams, is currently the No. 3 seed in Division III. The Rebels’ only close game this season was a 36-30 victory over Evangel Christian in the season opener. Every other win has been beateb by at least three touchdowns.

Newman, whose only loss was to Riverside, is the No. 5 seed and Northlake Christian is a 9 seed.

Hannan and Pope John Paul II are currently the 11 and 13 seeds, despite having combined to win two games this season.

Country Day is the area’s top-ranked team in Division IV at the No. 8, which would be good enough to host a first round game. St. Martin’s is currently the No. 15 seed and should squeeze into the 16-team field.

Now for the non-select schools.

In Class 1A, West St. John is currently a three seed, which is also where they were seeded last year before reaching the semifinals.

Looking for a reason why the split format is a bad idea?

Keep reading.

St. James (9), Pine (10), South Plaquemines (22) and Carver (25), all look to be in the field. And Fisher, which has just two wins, could be in as well. The Gators are currently sitting at the No. 31 spot in the 32-team field.

Sophie Wright (3-6) is just on the outside looking in at No. 35, but has a winnable game against Fisher this weekend. Cohen, which hasn’t won a game this season or the past two seasons, is at the No. 35 spot.

In 3A, McMain is currently a No. 17 seed, just one seed away from hosting a bidistrict round playoff game.

Miller-McCoy is the 21st seed and has assured itself a playoff berth after beating Thomas Jefferson for the Distirct 10-3A crown Saturday night.

In Class 4A, where New Orleans was so dominant a season ago, it could be just as strong this season. In 2013, three of the last four teams standing (East Jefferson, Karr, and Landry-Walker) were local teams.

Three of the top six this year are local teams, with Easton leading the way at No. 3, followed closely by Franklinton (4) and Landry-Walker (6).

Karr, Belle Chasse, defending champion East Jefferson, Lakeshore all look to be in. Riverdale is currently at No. 31, which would barely get in.

Salmen is just outside at No. 33. McDonogh 35, which is probably the best 1-win team in the state, is at No. 34. The Roneagles play No. 23 Belle Chasse Thursday.

In Class 5A, Destrehan is currently the No. 5 seed. Mandeville, Hahnville, and John Ehret all look to be teams that will host first- round games next week. East St. John, Covington, and Slidell should be in but will likely have to travel in the bidistrict round. Fontainebleau (34) and West Jefferson (36) are on the outside looking in.